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Titles reviewed by Library readers and staff

Gone Tonight

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By Sarah Peddanen

This is a fast-paced thriller about a single mom and her young adult daughter. Both women aren’t quite what they seem to be. Mom is hiding a terrible secret and her devoted daughter has her own hidden personality traits. My favorite part is when Ruth (mom) divulges via her journal how she survived as a pregnant teen running from the law.
Barbara Johnston  Check Availability

Loveless

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By Alice Oseman

Fun and informative. A good story to help understand more about asexuality. (YA fiction)
Jami  Check Availability

No Two Persons

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By Erica Bauermeister

I cherished this book! Read it and listened to the audio (which has great narrators). It’s a beautiful and highly entertaining look at the life of a book–and the people it affects–through the experiences of various people who connect with it. Lots of fun cross-mentions between the chapters/stories: I immediately read it again to catch all of them.
Cathy Grace  Check Availability

Bridge of Clay

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By Markus Zusak

An unusual, touching, and at times suspenseful story of a family unlike any other. Often told back to front, it will keep you wondering until at last all the parts come together.
Nina Berezina  Check Availability

Brothers and Sisters

By Alan Paul

Informative history of the Allman Brothers Band including the relationship with the Grateful Dead and ties to Jimmy Carter. I liked the descriptions of personalities of band members and management people.
Pete Williams

Locust Lane

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By Stephen Amidon

Fascinating plot, but some very graphic teen sex and abuse. Foreshadowing is a bit clumsy, but there are some great details and nice word play.
Lynne   Check Availability

My Last Innocent Year

Book giveaway for My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin Sep 26 ...

By Daisy Florin

The book is narrated in the first person, and the first chapter was about the narrator losing her virginity in a dorm room.
Cheryl Wiles   Available through Prospector

When Sea Becomes Sky

By Gillian McDunn

I liked this book because it was a very sweet, loving, heartfelt story mixed with sadness, and this is my favorite kind. It was all amazing, but my favorite chapter was the first one.
Olive Cartlidge   Available through Prospector

Shutter

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By Ramona Emerson

Outstanding! I’m always open to new mystery settings and protagonists, and this one satisfies! A Navajo (Diné) woman bucks her culture’s taboos about death by working as a forensic photographer. She gets extra help in solving crimes by being able to see and communicate with dead people. Intriguing, poetic, creepy at times…I’m hoping this is the first of a series!
Cathy Grace   Check availability

Leonora in the Morning Light

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By Michaela Canter

This book just kept getting better and better..I learned so much about Max Ernst and Leonora Carrington and their art. The story was engaging and based on true historical events. This is a great story in lyrical and descriptive prose about history and artists.
Cheryl Wiles  Check Availability

One Last Shot

By Kip Wilson

I enjoyed the story of Gerda Taro and Robert Capa as photographers during the Spanish Civil War. The historical aspects were great! I did not enjoy reading a first-person story in verse! It would have been better received if written as a typical novel.        Cheryl Wiles   Available through Prospector

Age of Vice

By Deepti Kapoor

Excellent, in-depth character development. It was evident the author had lived and breathed the culture. My least favorite part was toward the end it became a little dense and not as fluid a read.     Jenifer

Bones in the Back Forty

By Marty Eberhardt

Mystery was engaging, but I was bothered by the lack of proofreading in places. Not good literature, but fun. Liked the garden information and both AZ and NM settings.   –Rebecca Hutchins

Sea of Tranquility

Sea of Tranquility: A novel (Hardcover) | The Literate Lizard

By Emily St. John Mandel

Mandel spins an interesting sci-fi story around time travel, using some of the characters we’ve met in her previous work. Confusing, slow start. Time travel as a reality is a stretch in believability, but Mandel handles it pretty masterfully.   Anon

Two Old Broads

Two Old Broads: Stuff You Need to Know That You Didn't Know You Needed to Know - Kindle edition ...

By M.E. Hecht, MD, and Whoopi Goldberg

It was a quick read and had some helpful hints about aging gracefully and in good health. Wish there had been more writing by Whoopi. Many of the snippets were not relatable for me. I expected more laughs and more words from Whoopi.    Karen Gerrity

How We Live Is How We Die

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By Pema Chodron

Pema always has great guidance on being with discomfort and pain–this time with death. I like how she remembers that Tibetan Buddhism is not what everyone relates to and makes lessons universally relatable.  Check Availability

It All Comes Down to This

By Therese Anne Fowler

Fun summer read. A little bit of suspense. I liked the characters (most of them) and the different perspectives and story lines.     Jen Karowe
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Perma Red

By Debra Magpie Earling

Very fluid, poetic writing, engaging story, current Native American themes. I liked the way it changes from first person narrative to third person writing style.    Anon
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Welcome to St. Hell

By Lewis Hancox

The author has told a complex story well. He has described the hell of high school for kids that don’t fit the norm. The main character was likeable–it was easy to follow their personal journey. The graphic novel format made it work even better.    Sheila Nelsen Amado

This is a story that needs to be told and HEARD! It was a great graphic novel–funny and honest. It needs a content warning: eating disorders, transphobia.     S.J.

Funny, sad, and everything in between. Feels like an honest portrayal of a trans teen’s journey to happiness. It’s British, so replete with Brit vocabulary and culture. Once I got used to it, I enjoyed that!
Cathy Grace

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A Sure Cure for Witchcraft

By Laura Best

Well written, engaging, easy book for reading before sleep.  Teresa Robertson

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My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding

By Sajni Patel

What a time-and-space-and-culture transporting into the culture of Indian-Americans! Age-old heritage merged with modern life–keeping the best of both. Steeped in love, family, tradition–and amazing foods, clothing, and continuity of cultural institutions.     Cathy Grace

Great book for young adults with teen romance and Indian culture. I liked learning about details of an Indian wedding. I got a better understanding of the challenges of having a traditional Indian family and living in the U.S.     Jonna F.

It was funny. The family dynamics were interesting. There was a good interface between cultural tradition and modern feminism. I identified with the main character due to her passion for music.     Anon

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Going Viral

Going Viral: A Socially Distant Love Story

By Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

YA – OMG, this took me right back to the chaos and uncertainty of early Pandemic times–and with a teenager! The author captures the crazy spectrum of emotions we’ve all experienced due to Covid and explores relationships (friend, family, and romantic) impacted by the uncertainty, fear, and inner growth nurtured by the extraordinary period in our lives…The book is a window into the nature and allure of social media too. Illuminating!    Cathy Grace
Available through Prospector

Bad Actors

By Mick Herron

The writing is hilarious. Plot is simple, but there are so many characters that the plot becomes incomprehensible until the midpoint of the book.  The writing was the best part of the book, for instance, “As a result of the blast ‘the black door was shaken, not stirred.'” Staff meeting: “The first half hour lasted just short of twice that long.” I would ‘sort of’ recommend this book. Θ Lynne Collins
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The Newcomer

The newcomer

By Mary Kay Andrews

It was predictable, not well written, but had enough of a mindless hook that I read the entire book–like a bag of chips. Surprising it was a NYT bestseller. Θ  Teresa Robertson

A little bit of romance, a little bit of suspense…the perfect “beach read.” I liked the characters! They cover all three age ranges: seniors, 30-somethings, pre-school! Anon
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In the Event of Love

In the Event of Love (Fern Falls, #1)

By Courtney Kae

As the author explained, she just wanted to read a simple Hallmark-type romance–but with gay characters. So she wrote one! I liked the small town setting, and all its positives and negatives.  Cathy Grace

A fun take on the second chance trope, with plenty of attitude, set in a small town complete with its own Lumberjane.  Kay Turnbaugh

Available through Prospector.

Brooklyn Supreme

Brooklyn Supreme

By Robert Reuland

This is a good story, a fun (and accurate) mocking of the judicial system. Several backstories were cleverly woven into the plot. I really enjoyed it, although the ending was a bit weak.    Anon   Available through Prospector

Also A Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me

Also a Poet: Frank O'Hara, My Father, and Me

By Ada Calhoun

I enjoy reading the memoirs of writers and liked the anecdotes about Frank O’Hara.
[Ada Calhoun, the daughter of celebrated art critic Peter Schjeldahl, traces her fraught relationship with her father and their shared obsession with a great poet.]    Anon
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The Last Professional

The Last Professional

By Ed Davis

Nice quick read, not the most riveting book, but interesting storyline. The characters were unique, and it seems to tell a fairly accurate tale of a rather unknown lifestyle. Anon

This book gave me a glimpse of a different life–that of hobos riding freights. The characters were well-drawn; great illustrations. Cathy Grace

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The Good Sister

By Sally Hepworth

An interesting story told by Fern, a librarian, and also by Rose, her sister, via diary. They are twins. Fern decides to have a baby because Rose desperately wants one, but cannot conceive. An intriguing read and story that kept me engaged. Not my typical read, but the story was interesting.     Cheryl Wiles

I liked the discussion of sensory processing and the sister relationship. I’m 1 of 4 sisters.     Anon

It’s a little reminiscent of The Rosie Project: quirky, but with a DARK side. It kept me guessing!    Patty H.

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Endure

Endure - By Cameron Hanes (hardcover) : Target

By Cameron Hanes

Very masculine and shallow. The book lacks meat and substance. I liked the layout with photos and multi-media.     Amy Hardy

I get the point the author is aiming for, but didn’t care for how it was delivered/presented. It’s pretty repetitive, same boastful story chapter after chapter.     Anon

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Shadows of Berlin

By David R. Gillham

Captivating, although the content was disturbing. It made you really want to understand. So well written, a female character by a male author. My favorite part was the details and descriptions of everything: art, environments. I could see and feel them.    Teresa Robertson

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Noopiming

Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies

By Leanne Simpson

It was hard to follow due to words in a different language, not knowing if a character was human or animal or spirit, and the choppy flow of poetry/narrative. I’m not sure if I would recommend it, but I liked the storytelling of indigenous people.  Θ  Karen Gerrity

Vladimir

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By Julia May Jonas

It was intelligent and dealt with aging/sex/power social issues, some interesting observations. That being said, I was relieved when it was over.  Θ  Anon
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Watershed: Attending to Body and Earth in Distress

Watershed: Attending to Body and Earth in Distress

By Ranae Lemor Hanson

Poetic, flowing story in a strong voice with an important message: the intertwining of physical disease and planetary disease, tying all things to water.      Karen Gerrity
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Restitution

By John A. Daly

It was a great story. Well written.    Anon

Reads like a soap opera. I would not recommend it.     Susan Gerhart

Available through Prospector

The Golden Couple

The Golden Couple: A Novel by Greer Hendricks, Sarah ...

By Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Another good one by this duo! Put together a renegade therapist and unconventional methods, plus two people who might or might not be what they appear…devoured it! It was completely absorbing and fun to get lost in a book, to tear myself away as necessary and then count the time ’til I could get back to it.  Cathy Grace

Such a fun story! Love 1st person! Grabbed me into it on the first page. Great writing. Marisa and Avery were great female protagonists.  Anon

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The Secret Life of Kitty Granger

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By G.D. Falksen

What’s not to like about a teen-aged autistic girl who follows her curiosity and ends up a spy? I loved the character of Kitty; learned some interesting things about autism traits. And it had me on the edge of my seat!    Cathy Grace

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The Younger Wife

The Younger Wife

By Sally Hepworth

Engaging characters, each with secrets. Who to believe?? I liked the short chapters and that, combined with the story, made it compulsively readable.    Cathy Grace

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Legends of the North Cascades

By Jonathan Evison

Great story, compelling characters I cared about. Interweaving of story of women during the Ice Age, some redemption at the end. I liked the interweaving of the stories of Bella and S’tka. Beautifully done.      Karen Gerrity
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Dying To Be Me

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By Anita Moorjani

Amazing from beginning to end! Thank you for sharing!    Anon

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Monkey Beach

By Eden Robinson

A first-person narrative story of a young First Nations girl/woman growing up in British Columbia, in the late 1900s. Published in 2000. The story jumps through time, like the magical, poetic writing style. Sparse language, descriptive and lush. Robinson has published a recent trilogy. I would love to have them available to read. R. Linn

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Heaven Is A Place on Earth

Heaven is a Place on Earth

By Adrian Shirk

Stinko. Too academic, wandering. I like learning about Utopian communities, but this was boring.   Anon

Lightning Down

Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival

By Tom Clavin

Very informative, nothing like it for my library, although I would suggest simplifying expressions and a two-part book, part I for Childhood and learning to fly, and Part II for prisoner of war.   Θ  Don L. Johnson

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The Lost Village

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By Camilla Sten

Page turner, but lots of fluff.  Θ  Anon

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The Unwilling

By John Hart

Typical John Hart who is a good storyteller. Painful look at VietNam. Great packaging!  Θ  Susan G.

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At the Edge of the Haight

By Katherine Seligman

Narrator’s perspective was unique–a homeless person–but plot and characters were flat. Felt like a worthless day n the life.  The book really humanized homeless people. We often walk by them without a glance. I would possibly recommend it for a YA audience.  Θ  Brianna Lambert
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Twig and Turtle

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By Jennifer Richard Jacobson

It kind of related to what was happening to me. My favorite part was when Twig was trying to fix the problem, big dog/tiny house.     Delemey

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The Last House on the Street

The Last House on the Street: A Novel by Diane Chamberlain, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®

By Diane Chamberlain

The writing is good, and the topic important. I had a hard time empathizing with Ellie due to the way she contributed to Win’s death. Ellie came across as a clueless, entitled white girl/woman who should have known better and not put Win’s life in jeopardy.   Θ  Karen Gerrity

See more Diane Chamberlain books

Infinite Country

By Patricia Engel

A well written and engaging story from multiple perspectives about immigration, legal and not, so very timely. I liked it because of the blending of local conditions in Colombia with person experience of migration and insight into that experience.      Heather Lazrus

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The Personal Librarian

By Marie Benedict

OK, it’s pretty much a given that I would pick up a historical novel about a librarian… But this is so captivating! The woman who curated JP Morgan’s library was a fascinating character, a woman excelling in the “man’o world” of manuscript acquisition. And she had and lived with a huge secret her whole life! She was black, passing as white.  Such a vital story today, too.  Cathy Grace

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The Removed

By Brandon Hobson

Interesting characters. Native culture good.  Θ

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A History of What Comes Next

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By Sylvain Neuvel

Well written, good story. I would recommend this book.  Anon

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I loved the storytelling-by-letter format. The book was (surprise!) so much better than the movie.  Gail Eddy

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Clark and Division

Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

By Naomi Hirahara

I love historical fiction, and this was the first time I’d read about the treatment of the Japanese during WWII. I loved the way she developed the characters. The “bad guys” were really the “good guys” and vice versa!    Gaily Eddy

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The President’s Daughter

By Bill Clinton and James Patterson

It’s a big book but fast reading.  Great for a lazing day on the deck!  Gail Eddy

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Sideways Stories from Wayside School

By Louis Sachar
(Children)

One of my favorite books. Quick, silly, and sometimes insightful vignettes about students and teachers at Wayside, a school that was built sideways so it’s 30 stories tall. (The builder said he was very sorry.) Great for bedtime, read-alouds, or children who like quick, funny reads!    Mike S.
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The Edge Chronicles

By Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
(Juvenile)

Another really good fantasy series, full of action and adrenaline. These books are really entertaining to read!    Jake DeLong
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The Secret Life of Bees

By Sue Monk Kidd (narrator for audio book: Jenna Lamia)
Poetic prose and tragically lovely. Depicts strong, independent women.    Patty H.
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NPR Road Trips Collection: On the Road Again (CD)

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I listened to this while on a road trip. It was great! NPR-style stories that inform, entertain, and add dimension. Lots of fun!
(Patty agrees!) Cathy Grace
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The Dead Husband

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By Carter Wilson
It’s not going to be one of the New York Times best books of the year, but it may be one of the ten best mysteries. The characters were interesting and engaging.    E. Miles
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The Escape Room

By Megan Goldin
This book scared me from the first page. Look for it to be a 2020 Edgar nominee.    SG
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At the Water’s Edge

By Sara Gruen
Sara Gruen has a unique way of entering the reader right into her story with both great dialogue and descriptive words. This story leaves you struggling with personal feelings toward its characters and guessing where the story will end. A book quite difficult to put down.    Laura
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The Magnificent Mountain Women

By Janet Robertson
An enduring classic, celebrating women adventurers here in Colorado. Check out my grandmother (Harriet Vaille Bouck) and great aunt (Agnes Vaille) who both left a legacy that endures today on Rocky Mountain National Park and, in particular, Longs Peak. Woman power!  Cathy Grace

Think you’re tough? Check out these women who helped shape the history of Colorado.  Kay Turnbaugh
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A Good Neighborhood

By Therese Ann Fowler
A story of two families on a collision course. It explores class, race, and their effects on two young people trying to navigate their own feelings. Excellent read!    Gail Archambeau
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Remarkable Creatures

By Tracy Chevalier
A moving story of an unusual female friendship, on the brink of God-created vs. evolution.    Patty H.
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Fahrenheit 451

By Ray Bradbury
Amazing story! One of the best dystopians I have ever read and will not disappoint!    Jake DeLong
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Foxglove Summer
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By Ben Aaronovitch
#7 in the Rivers of London police procedural/magician stories/series. Two little girls have gone missing–have they been kidnapped by the fairies? Excellent series!   Janette Taylor
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Big Lies in a Small Town

By Diane Chamberlain
Very unusual plot, a few too many coincidences but fascinating. Lots of details about art, restoration of art and about the South. Excellent use of situation-appropriate idioms as the time changed from 1939 to 2018. It’s nice to have a book mainly about good people.  Lynne Collins

An art student has an opportunity to get out of prison to restore Anna Dale’s 1940s mural. Mysterious questions arise at every turn and make this novel a page turner!  Gail Archambeau

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Tales of the Lazy Z

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By Don Stilson
Did you know Don? Sadly, he died in 2017. But through this newly-published book of stories, you can get acquainted and see what/who you missed.
The stories are classified as fiction, but ring true in many ways and carry a lot of truth, as well as the flavor of our area and of the lifestyle of a modern cattle-raising couple. Ranging from laugh-out-loud funny to throat-lump poignant, every story is a winner.    Cathy Grace

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Our Woman in Moscow

By Beatriz Williams

Set during the Cold War with dual timelines of 1940 and 1952, this thriller stars twin sisters, two indomitable women whose foe is also a woman. It’s unusual for spy novels to feature this many women, and that, by itself, makes it a fascinating read. Kay Turnbaugh
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The Night Always Comes

By Willy Vlautin

This is classic Vlautin—a deeply realistic, empathetic, and depressing life in current America. A thin thread of hope wins the story.    Anon
Love Lynette’s gumption and determination. True and sparse prose is a quick read as style matches plot.   Anon
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Outlawed

By Anna North

Well written, complex, and driven female protagonist in a believable wild west dystopia. Nicely paced and well written with an apt ending.  Olivia Dawson 

A Good Neighborhood

By Therese Ann Fowler A story of two families on a collision course. It explores class, race, and their effects…

A History of What Comes Next

By Sylvain Neuvel Well written, good story. I would recommend this book.  Anon Check Availability

A Sure Cure for Witchcraft

By Laura Best Well written, engaging, easy book for reading before sleep.  Teresa Robertson Check Availability

Age of Vice

By Deepti Kapoor Excellent, in-depth character development. It was evident the author had lived and breathed the culture. My least…

Also A Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me

By Ada Calhoun I enjoy reading the memoirs of writers and liked the anecdotes about Frank O’Hara. [Ada Calhoun, the…

At the Edge of the Haight

By Katherine Seligman Narrator’s perspective was unique–a homeless person–but plot and characters were flat. Felt like a worthless day n…

At the Water’s Edge

By Sara Gruen Sara Gruen has a unique way of entering the reader right into her story with both great…

Bad Actors

By Mick Herron The writing is hilarious. Plot is simple, but there are so many characters that the plot becomes…

Big Lies in a Small Town

By Diane Chamberlain Very unusual plot, a few too many coincidences but fascinating. Lots of details about art, restoration of…

Bones in the Back Forty

By Marty Eberhardt Mystery was engaging, but I was bothered by the lack of proofreading in places. Not good literature,…

Bridge of Clay

By Markus Zusak An unusual, touching, and at times suspenseful story of a family unlike any other. Often told back…

Brooklyn Supreme

By Robert Reuland This is a good story, a fun (and accurate) mocking of the judicial system. Several backstories were…

Brothers and Sisters

By Alan Paul Informative history of the Allman Brothers Band including the relationship with the Grateful Dead and ties to…

Clark and Division

By Naomi Hirahara I love historical fiction, and this was the first time I’d read about the treatment of the…

Dying To Be Me

By Anita Moorjani Amazing from beginning to end! Thank you for sharing!    Anon Check Availability

Endure

By Cameron Hanes Very masculine and shallow. The book lacks meat and substance. I liked the layout with photos and…

Fahrenheit 451

By Ray Bradbury Amazing story! One of the best dystopians I have ever read and will not disappoint!    Jake…

Foxglove Summer

By Ben Aaronovitch #7 in the Rivers of London police procedural/magician stories/series. Two little girls have gone missing–have they been…

Going Viral

By Katie Cicatelli-Kuc YA – OMG, this took me right back to the chaos and uncertainty of early Pandemic times–and…

Gone Tonight

By Sarah Peddanen This is a fast-paced thriller about a single mom and her young adult daughter. Both women aren’t…

Heaven Is A Place on Earth

By Adrian Shirk Stinko. Too academic, wandering. I like learning about Utopian communities, but this was boring.   Anon

How We Live Is How We Die

By Pema Chodron Pema always has great guidance on being with discomfort and pain–this time with death. I like how…

In the Event of Love

By Courtney Kae As the author explained, she just wanted to read a simple Hallmark-type romance–but with gay characters. So…

Infinite Country

By Patricia Engel A well written and engaging story from multiple perspectives about immigration, legal and not, so very timely.…

It All Comes Down to This

By Therese Anne Fowler Fun summer read. A little bit of suspense. I liked the characters (most of them) and…

Legends of the North Cascades

By Jonathan Evison Great story, compelling characters I cared about. Interweaving of story of women during the Ice Age, some…

Leonora in the Morning Light

By Michaela Canter This book just kept getting better and better..I learned so much about Max Ernst and Leonora Carrington…

Lightning Down

By Tom Clavin Very informative, nothing like it for my library, although I would suggest simplifying expressions and a two-part…

Locust Lane

By Stephen Amidon Fascinating plot, but some very graphic teen sex and abuse. Foreshadowing is a bit clumsy, but there…

Loveless

By Alice Oseman Fun and informative. A good story to help understand more about asexuality. (YA fiction) Jami  Check Availability

Monkey Beach

By Eden Robinson A first-person narrative story of a young First Nations girl/woman growing up in British Columbia, in the…

My Last Innocent Year

By Daisy Florin The book is narrated in the first person, and the first chapter was about the narrator losing…

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding

By Sajni Patel What a time-and-space-and-culture transporting into the culture of Indian-Americans! Age-old heritage merged with modern life–keeping the best…

No Two Persons

By Erica Bauermeister I cherished this book! Read it and listened to the audio (which has great narrators). It’s a…

Noopiming

By Leanne Simpson It was hard to follow due to words in a different language, not knowing if a character…

NPR Road Trips Collection: On the Road Again (CD)

I listened to this while on a road trip. It was great! NPR-style stories that inform, entertain, and add dimension.…

One Last Shot

By Kip Wilson I enjoyed the story of Gerda Taro and Robert Capa as photographers during the Spanish Civil War.…

Our Woman in Moscow

By Beatriz Williams Set during the Cold War with dual timelines of 1940 and 1952, this thriller stars twin sisters,…

Outlawed

By Anna North Well written, complex, and driven female protagonist in a believable wild west dystopia. Nicely paced and well…

Perma Red

By Debra Magpie Earling Very fluid, poetic writing, engaging story, current Native American themes. I liked the way it changes…

Remarkable Creatures

By Tracy Chevalier A moving story of an unusual female friendship, on the brink of God-created vs. evolution.    Patty…

Restitution

By John A. Daly It was a great story. Well written.    Anon Reads like a soap opera. I would…

Sea of Tranquility

By Emily St. John Mandel Mandel spins an interesting sci-fi story around time travel, using some of the characters we’ve…

Shadows of Berlin

By David R. Gillham Captivating, although the content was disturbing. It made you really want to understand. So well written,…

Shutter

By Ramona Emerson Outstanding! I’m always open to new mystery settings and protagonists, and this one satisfies! A Navajo (Diné)…

Sideways Stories from Wayside School

By Louis Sachar (Children) One of my favorite books. Quick, silly, and sometimes insightful vignettes about students and teachers at…

Tales of the Lazy Z

By Don Stilson Did you know Don? Sadly, he died in 2017. But through this newly-published book of stories, you…

The Dead Husband

By Carter Wilson It’s not going to be one of the New York Times best books of the year, but…

The Edge Chronicles

By Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell (Juvenile) Another really good fantasy series, full of action and adrenaline. These books are…

The Escape Room

By Megan Goldin This book scared me from the first page. Look for it to be a 2020 Edgar nominee. …

The Golden Couple

By Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Another good one by this duo! Put together a renegade therapist and unconventional methods,…

The Good Sister

By Sally Hepworth An interesting story told by Fern, a librarian, and also by Rose, her sister, via diary. They…

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows I loved the storytelling-by-letter format. The book was (surprise!) so much better than…

The Last House on the Street

By Diane Chamberlain The writing is good, and the topic important. I had a hard time empathizing with Ellie due…

The Last Professional

By Ed Davis Nice quick read, not the most riveting book, but interesting storyline. The characters were unique, and it…

The Lost Village

By Camilla Sten Page turner, but lots of fluff.  Θ  Anon Check Availability

The Magnificent Mountain Women

By Janet Robertson An enduring classic, celebrating women adventurers here in Colorado. Check out my grandmother (Harriet Vaille Bouck) and…

The Newcomer

By Mary Kay Andrews It was predictable, not well written, but had enough of a mindless hook that I read…

The Night Always Comes

By Willy Vlautin This is classic Vlautin—a deeply realistic, empathetic, and depressing life in current America. A thin thread of…

The Personal Librarian

By Marie Benedict OK, it’s pretty much a given that I would pick up a historical novel about a librarian……

The President’s Daughter

By Bill Clinton and James Patterson It’s a big book but fast reading.  Great for a lazing day on the…

The Removed

By Brandon Hobson Interesting characters. Native culture good.  Θ Check Availability

The Secret Life of Bees

By Sue Monk Kidd (narrator for audio book: Jenna Lamia) Poetic prose and tragically lovely. Depicts strong, independent women.   …

The Secret Life of Kitty Granger

By G.D. Falksen What’s not to like about a teen-aged autistic girl who follows her curiosity and ends up a…

The Unwilling

By John Hart Typical John Hart who is a good storyteller. Painful look at VietNam. Great packaging!  Θ  Susan G.…

The Younger Wife

By Sally Hepworth Engaging characters, each with secrets. Who to believe?? I liked the short chapters and that, combined with…

Twig and Turtle

By Jennifer Richard Jacobson It kind of related to what was happening to me. My favorite part was when Twig…

Two Old Broads

By M.E. Hecht, MD, and Whoopi Goldberg It was a quick read and had some helpful hints about aging gracefully…

Vladimir

By Julia May Jonas It was intelligent and dealt with aging/sex/power social issues, some interesting observations. That being said, I…

Watershed: Attending to Body and Earth in Distress

By Ranae Lemor Hanson Poetic, flowing story in a strong voice with an important message: the intertwining of physical disease…

Welcome to St. Hell

By Lewis Hancox The author has told a complex story well. He has described the hell of high school for…

When Sea Becomes Sky

By Gillian McDunn I liked this book because it was a very sweet, loving, heartfelt story mixed with sadness, and…

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